The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, worsened late last week with suspension and counter-suspensions among members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC.

The NWC led by Umar Damagum had suspended the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade.

A few hours after the announcement, the Ajibade faction suspended Damagum and the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, deepening the crisis that has been rocking the party since the 2023 general elections.

The suspension and counter-suspension led to the emergence of a factional PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Yayari Mohammed.

Mohammed emerged amid a ruling of the Abuja Federal High Court restraining the National Executive Committee (NEC) and PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Damagum as the party’s Acting National Chairman.

The court also ordered that no other person must be recognized as PDP national chairman other than Damagum until the national convention of the party scheduled for December next year.

However, the PDP governors’ have now stepped in, and asked that the status quo be maintained.

National Chairmanship crisis and PDP’s political future

Reacting to the developments, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu said the PDP chairmanship tussle would affect the party’s future if those responsible were not shown the way out.

He told DAILY POST: “If it’s unresolved and they allow those working for the APC to succeed with their agenda, then it will be a natural result. It will be a one-party state.

“A group of boys went around town bragging that they were working for the APC yet remained with the party, so what do you expect to get?

“It’s either we allow them to kill the party and turn Nigeria into a one-party state or stop them and do the right thing.

“It’s natural that it will affect the party’s future and that is the agenda of those stoking the crisis, they are paid agents who are working and serving an interest.

“You can’t serve God and Mammon, you can’t serve two masters; these guys know what they are doing because they started it in the last election and have continued unabated.

“Instead of governance, they are already thinking of 2027 and they need to continue stoking this kind of crisis to remain relevant, so that their paymasters will continue to pay them, those who have cases with security agencies and financial crimes commission will continue to be working free; so they know why they are stoking the crisis.

“They know that if the crisis continues, there is no way they can get anything out of it because a house divided against itself can’t stand.”

Tinubu behind PDP crisis – Shaibu alleges

Shaibu warned that Nigeria was at risk of a one-party system if PDP fails to resolve its National chairmanship crisis.

He claimed that President Bola Tinubu might collapse Nigeria into a one-party state, hence the need for the PDP to resolve its chairmanship tussle.

Shaibu said: “We know his (Tinubu) strategy even as governor, he operated a one-party in Lagos State even after leaving office for over 20 years.

“From the local government to the state house of assembly, to the state governor. They will always stifle and muscle the opposition, we are not surprised.

“We know the drummers of war and those stocking the crisis right from the 2023 elections, the media is aware and they have never hidden their admiration for the role they are playing.

“First, they said it was G-5, we informed Nigerians this was where they were headed, so when we hear Nigerians complain today about poverty and hunger, you just know that when a cowboy visits a place, he leaves it in ruins until nothing can come out of that place.

“So, that is the agenda they are after. Instead of concentrating on governance, they are stocking the crisis so that they will be paid, get political patronage, and it’s a well-paid job.

How best to resolve PDP’s crisis

“It’s possible but it takes boldness, audaciousness, and sincerity. They know those stocking the crisis and it’s for the leaders and governors of the party to come together,” Shaibu added.

“Some of our governors have surrendered their oath of office and personality to one man, so it’s difficult for them to tell anybody the truth.

“Before now, governors were seen as people who could operate above board with sincerity of purpose but what we see today is a different ball game.

“We only have people who play to the gallery and the dictates of their bosom friends.

“If they are serious about resolving the crisis, it’s to call a spade-a-spade by telling those stocking the crisis to get out of the party.

“This is what we knew would happen because we know their agenda and we told them before now that these characters are shameless.

“They swallowed everything before – they once said ‘I will never be minister, never leave the party, now they proudly bragged about working against their own party – so, if you are a governor and you are a friend to such a person, do I need the services of a witch doctor to know the kind of person you are?” He queried.

“Resolving the crisis is up to them because they know what they want. One character woke up the other day saying Atiku should not contest in 2027 because he would be 80 years old then.

“Yet, the same character wants the current president to continue in office. How old is the current president and how old will he be in 2027? Illiteracy is a misfortune and should never be taken as a privilege,” he added.

No faction in PDP

Despite the current situation, Shaibu maintained that PDP has no faction and that Atiku stands for the unity of the party.

He said: “We don’t have a faction in the PDP, Atiku belongs to PDP and does not have a faction in the party and that’s why we don’t like to speak. This is a man who believes in the unity of Nigeria and charity they say begins at home.

“Wike says he’s a PDP member but does not just work for the party, and that’s why I said illiteracy is a misfortune that should never be taken as a privilege; when a man does not know that there is a difference between working with and working for, it’s a problem.

“If it’s working with the APC government, it’s a different thing but when you work for the government, it means that you work against your own interest and that of the people you claim to represent (your own party).

“So there is a difference between working for and working with – when they understand the grammar, life will be easy for them.

“When they say I work for an APC government but know that I’m a PDP member, you are correct but the message they want to convey is that they work with.

“They have already exposed the hypocrisy of what they are doing because it’s a different thing to work for and work with.

“When you work for you do their dirty jobs, their bidding but when you work with, you remain your own man, you say your own things and believe in your principles. Take it from me Atiku has no faction in the PDP.”

Wike, Atiku can still work together for 2027

He also did not dismiss the possibility of Atiku and Wike resolving their issues and working together ahead of 2023.

“In politics, anything is possible, did Wike not say before now that APC was cancerous and why will he leave somebody with Malaria for one with cancer? Is he not working for APC now? So in politics, anything is possible,” he added.

PDP’s National Chairman should come from Northcentral

On his part, Austin Okai, a former House of Representatives candidate from Kogi State said PDP should extend its searchlight to the entire North Central as a solution to the crisis.

Okai argued that this important role belongs to the entire North Central zone and that states like Kwara, Kogi, Niger, and Nasarawa should also be considered.

He highlighted notable figures like former Senate President Bukola Saraki from Kwara State, former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Humphrey Abba, and former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Philip Salawu, as potential candidates.

Okai also mentioned Maibasira from Niger State and Hon. David Ombugadu from Nasarawa State as capable individuals who deserve consideration.

He firmly believes that the North Central PDP leadership should have a decisive role in selecting the next National Chairman, rather than leaving the decision in the hands of a few individuals.

“No one can nominate Ayu’s successor without the full input of the North Central zone’s leadership. This is not a decision for Benue alone.

“The suspension of Ayu was a decision made by the people of Benue, and they were fully present when this arrangement was set in motion.

“Their involvement in the process should be reconsidered. We need fresh leadership that can rescue the party and steer it in the right direction,” Okai declared.